Past 2yrs, and returning to work?

[BaaBaa]

Ive been a SAHM since dd was born- she is almost 2 and still nursing several times a day if only for short periods (lets say 5 times per day) and retreats to the boob many more times for just a check in slurp. She has been nursing at least 2x in the night, sometimes more

Money is tight, and i feel like i should return to work.

i also feel like DD needs me at home to nurse.

What do i do!? Pumping isnt really an option (never worked for me), she never took a bottle any way- plus i think its the act of nursing she needs.

Should i just go and make her learn a new way to sooth/sleep ect? Or hold out in hope she will self wean before we go broke? im so conflicted and confused.

I looked for jobs where she would be with me, but no success. only think i cant find is an true no kids kind of job.

[poppan]

I went back to work part-time (3 days a week) when my twins were 14.5 months old. I didn't pump. They went from nursing every 3 hours or so to nothing while I was out of the house (about 8 hours). They adjusted fine. They had to get used to a new caretaker (we hired a nanny--due to my part-time schedule and having two kids, it was cheaper than daycare!), which they did very well at (they never cried, not even on the first day I left them with her). They would nurse the minute I walked in the door. But otherwise were just fine, I can't even say there was really an adjustment period. Maybe there were at just the right age for new person, different rules/no nursing on the nanny.

Even the naps went just fine. Our nanny just popped them in the stroller when they looked tired and walked around till they fell asleep.

So I guess based on my experience, I would say it might be a bigger adjustment for your daughter to not have you in the house vs not being able to nurse or have mommy's milk. From a nutrition standpoint I think you are fine also.

P.S. We went on to nurse for a while longer--I nightweaned at 22.5 months and weaned-weaned (at my nudging/direction) at 31 months.

[chipper26]

My dd is almost 2 and I'm going back to work in a few weeks. I'm worried about how she will handle naps b/c she still nurses to sleep, but other than that, we'll just nurse at home. I'm not going to push any weaning for at least 6 months after she starts daycare so she can have that comfort and stability when she's home with me. I was planning on weaning her around are 2, but neither one of us is ready yet.

I know she doesn't really need my milk as much for nutrition as she does for comfort at this point, even though it does fill in the gaps nutritionally. She will probably just eat more during the day b/c she can't rely on the num-num to fill her up when she doesn't eat.

Good luck!